Beaufort’s James Davis, 80, joined the United States Navy in Beaufort after graduating from Robert Smalls High School in 1963. He attended boot camp in San Diego before being assigned to USS Ogden (LPH-5), the last ship built at the New York Naval Shipyard. He was part of the commissioning crew and sailed with her through the Panama Canal to San Diego before beginning deployments to
Vietnam delivering Marines and their equipment. He was on the amphibious landing craft as they landed the Marines under fire in Vietnam earning the Combat Action Ribbon. The ship made multiple trans-Pacific trips delivering Marines and equipment as well as forays to Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines. After three years of nearly constant underway time he transferred to the Naval Reserve.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
